Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 145 posts

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#61

Post by eviks »

celeritascelery wrote: post #49
flohofwoe wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case the machine would be locked and no new USB connections should be accepted in locked state? And if the computer isn't locked during your bathroom break, the "bad actor" can do whatever he wants anyway, including clicking the Ok button after inserting the USB device. But in general, yeah, an USB popup is the least of Ventura's problems (the much bigger problem is the slow but steady "iOS-ification" of macO…

> In that case the machine would be locked and no new USB connections should be accepted in locked state? Until you get back and unlock the device. Or if you have a usb hub it is possible for someone to plug something in without your knowledge while using the device.

> Until you get back and unlock the device

then show the popup at unlock! still doesn't explain the usefulness of the original popup

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#62

Post by schwartzworld »

roxgib wrote: post #16

Every tech journalist moans about Macs lacking touch screens, but I really hope it never happens. Touch interfaces and desktop interfaces are fundamentally different and having both just forces a lot of compromise. But it seems like Apple gets that and is just unifying the experience a bit rather than paving the way for touch screen MacBooks, at least I hope.

I had a Chromebook with a touch screen for years and I found it to be a nice feature, particularly for my small kids for whom the mouse was an additional layer of difficulty.

I could see how touch screens would benefit those with a11y issues. We already know mouse control is an issue for many.

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#63

Post by cassianoleal »

lapcat wrote: post #41
flohofwoe wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...it is quite an achievement to come up with something that's even worse than the previous "icon soup" settings though ;) (at least the settings search bar still works as expected - which is now more important because discovery definitely has suffered)

> at least the settings search bar still works as expected It actually doesn't. One major difference in usability is that the search field has the focus on launch in System Preferences but not in System Settings. In general, keyboard navigation in System Settings is a massive downgrade. This is what happens when you model desktop software after mobile.

⌘F puts the focus on the search bar. It is a step back in usability but I would hardly call it a major one.

I agree with the rest of your post.

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#64

Post by thfuran »

wkat4242 wrote: post #51
BuckyBeaver wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

It's actually quite ergonomic if you have the laptop in your lap. Using the touchpad is more awkward. This is basically what I use the touchscreen on my Thinkpad for.

But working with a laptop in your lap is just about the opposite of ergonomic.

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#65

Post by acdha »

eviks wrote: post #52
acdha wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They definitely do prompt, because it’s not uncommon. There’s an entire cottage industry selling tools: https://shop.hak5.org/products/usb-rubber-ducky More importantly, it puts you one hack away from arbitrary code execution. That device is a dedicated testing tool but there are tons of USB devices which have vulnerable firmware, and the OS vendor can’t know whether you’d pick up a USB key you find on the ground, bu…

But how would the prompt help if the user plugging the off-the-ground USB key would just click yes?

It’s not foolproof but it gives people the opportunity to notice a problem and ask why something which isn’t a keyboard is trying to be one. The long-term fix is securing the USB protocol but when the deployed device count is measured in billions even a stopgap is useful.

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#67

Post by acdha »

goosedragons wrote: post #53
acdha wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They definitely do prompt, because it’s not uncommon. There’s an entire cottage industry selling tools: https://shop.hak5.org/products/usb-rubber-ducky More importantly, it puts you one hack away from arbitrary code execution. That device is a dedicated testing tool but there are tons of USB devices which have vulnerable firmware, and the OS vendor can’t know whether you’d pick up a USB key you find on the ground, bu…

I'm aware the tools exist but how actively exploited is it? Prompting you doesn't help in scenarios like buying a compromised gadget off Craiglist or a finding a USB key on the ground. The user is going to accept the prompt anyways to use it to begin with. Does it prompt you again if the USB devices firmware changes even while it's constantly plugged in? The only scenario I can see this being helpful is if someone is…

> The user is going to accept the prompt anyways to use it to begin with.

Some people will but some are going to ask why, changing this from a silent attack to one far more likely to be noticed and reported. That’s especially useful if you’re worried about widespread malware doing something like this to chain from a phone or some kind of IoT device to computers, or a factory in China being compromised but not noticing/caring until infected devices are all over Amazon.

Long term, the protocol needs hardening but things like this help make those kind of problems visible. Apple has a range of users from people who aren’t targeted to those worried about hostile corporations or governments, and as other attacks get harder things like this become more appealing so it’s not surprising to see it getting hardened.

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#68

Post by wereallterrrist »

eviks wrote: post #52
acdha wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They definitely do prompt, because it’s not uncommon. There’s an entire cottage industry selling tools: https://shop.hak5.org/products/usb-rubber-ducky More importantly, it puts you one hack away from arbitrary code execution. That device is a dedicated testing tool but there are tons of USB devices which have vulnerable firmware, and the OS vendor can’t know whether you’d pick up a USB key you find on the ground, bu…

But how would the prompt help if the user plugging the off-the-ground USB key would just click yes?

"Some people ignore tobacco warnings, so why bother with indoor smoking prohibition laws"

The logic here of "just leave it unlocked, no one ever tried the door" it's... not logic.

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#69

Post by specialist »

BuckyBeaver wrote: post #36
CharlieDigital wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife has a Surface laptop and there are a lot of use cases where it's very natural to use touch. Scrolling when reading long documents is one. Looking at maps (e.g Google Maps) is another. Basically anything that has a lot of scrolling, panning, and zooming. Drawing annotations is another. For example Slack screen share, whiteboard apps, and so on. Of course there is the touchpad, but in these cases - especially w…

[flagged]

Touch screen kiosks can be nice.

My local library has a big sign on their self-checkout computer explaining the screen is not touch screen, that you have to use the mouse.

I still touch the screen. Every single time.

That said, I'm not sure I want my desktop to act like a kiosk. Maybe?

Re: My Controversial Opinion: Ventura Is Apple’s Worst macOS Yet

#70

Post by wereallterrrist »

BuckyBeaver wrote: post #36
CharlieDigital wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife has a Surface laptop and there are a lot of use cases where it's very natural to use touch. Scrolling when reading long documents is one. Looking at maps (e.g Google Maps) is another. Basically anything that has a lot of scrolling, panning, and zooming. Drawing annotations is another. For example Slack screen share, whiteboard apps, and so on. Of course there is the touchpad, but in these cases - especially w…

[flagged]

Well, its got my dad trained to fking jab at my brand new matte scrren and then upon realizing it doesnt work, getting out an ink pen to tap and point on my screen. Ffs. I need a sticker that says "ask before touching".
Post reply on HN